Patriarch Kirill meets with Rev Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, and a WCC peace delegation
Patriarch Kirill meets with Rev Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, and a WCC peace delegation (May 17, 2023). Credit: Moscow Patriarchate
Patriarch Kirill, shown here at a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church
Patriarch Kirill, shown here at a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church (May 16, 2023). Credit: Igor Palkin/Moscow Patriarchate
Patriarch Kirill meets with Rev Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, and a WCC peace delegation
Patriarch Kirill meets with Rev Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, and a WCC peace delegation (May 17, 2023). Credit: Moscow Patriarchate

WCC delegation goes to Moscow on peace mission

 — May 18, 202318 mai 2023
from the WCC news service and La Croix

WCC delegation goes to Moscow just days after a similar trip to Kiev, visits aimed at reconciling the various Orthodox Churches to be a force for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr. Jerry Pillay, has led a delegation to Moscow to meet with leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church, including Patriarch Kirill. The 24-hour visit, which was taking place on Wednesday and Thursday, followed a similar WCC trip from May 10-13 to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

“Consolidation and unity in Ukrainian society, including especially among the majority Christian Orthodox believers, is an obvious necessity in the current circumstances faced by the nation and people of Ukraine” observed Rev. Pillay. “We visited Moscow to discuss engagement also by the Russian Orthodox Church in dialogue on the war and its consequences, including with regard to the deep divisions in the Orthodox family in this context,” Pillay reported, “and I am grateful for HH Patriarch Kirill’s commitment to exploring this possibility.”

In the meeting with Patriarch Kirill, Rev. Pillay identified four important reasons for the WCC delegation’s visit: 1) the need to bring an end to the current war, 2) to work for the unity of the Orthodox family which is so seriously divided in this context, 3) to discuss the role of the churches in peacebuilding both internally among Christians and externally as we address the issues of war and violence, and 4) to propose an initial roundtable dialogue meeting to address these issues, with the participation of all parties concerned.

During the meeting, Patriarch Kirill reaffirmed the unique role of the WCC as a convenor and platform for dialogue among the churches on difficult and divisive issues. He shared his own memories, experiences and appreciation of the work of WCC in past years, especially its role in peacebuilding in the post-Cold War period. He emphasized his concern regarding attacks against Christians in many parts of the world, and expressed thanks for the WCC’s historic and continuing role in the promotion of religious freedom. He addressed the increasing disunity within the Orthodox family, especially in the Ukraine context, and stressed the need for believers to seek peace as the way forward.

While expressing concerns about the feasibility of a roundtable dialogue because of entrenched external influences, Patriarch Kirill expressed pleasure at the proposal and commended the WCC for working towards peace and unity. He expressed a willingness to participate in the roundtable dialogue but indicated the need first to consult internally within the Russian Orthodox Church.

The delegation to Kyiv

Lutheran Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm of Bavaria, chair of the WCC’s Central Committee, headed the delegation on the earlier visit to Kyiv. He and his team met with senior officials of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, historically attached to the Moscow Patriarchate, as well as with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Disputes between these two Churches have been exacerbated since the beginning of the Russian invasion. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church declared its independence from the Moscow Patriarchate in May 2022, but some of its monks are believed to have remained loyal to Russia. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine was granted autocephaly by Constantinople in 2019, which has exacerbated tensions between Moscow and Constantinople. The WCC delegation also visited the Kyiv Monastery of the Caves, a golden-domed monastery and jewel of Orthodox Christianity affiliated with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“Harmony between the religious communities of Ukraine is indispensable for the unity of the nation that this crisis demands,” the WCC noted in a statement following its delegation’s visit. “The WCC looks forward to working with the churches and the government of Ukraine to foster this unity and to reduce divisions and discord among the faithful,” it said.

To be an instrument of dialogue

The first step in this work could be a meeting next autumn between the two churches in Ukraine as well as with the Russian Orthodox Church. During the WCC delegation’s visit both the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine agreed to the plan, at least in principle. Now the WCC is trying to convince Patriarch Kirill to join as well. Its efforts to do so have been criticized by some, given that the Moscow Patriarchate is seen as a supporter of Vladimir Putin. Dr. Pillay, a South African Presbyterian who took up his post as WCC secretary general last January, has defended the WCC’s attempts to “dialogue” with Kirill and keep him engaged with the ecumenical body.

“This is the very essence of WCC’s purpose and calling” said Pillay, “to be an instrument of dialogue among the churches on the issues that divide us. We are committed to the Christian calling to be peacemakers, and faced with the situation in Ukraine and in the world today, the churches must struggle together to answer that calling.”

Reflecting on the meeting, Rev. Pillay recognized the significant challenges that efforts for dialogue must overcome. “It is clear that perspectives on the conflict, its causes, and the path towards a just peace remain highly polarized. However”, he concluded, “this only underlines the critical importance of efforts to create safe spaces for dialogue, and for the WCC this must start with attempts to bridge the intra-Orthodox divide which mirrors the current geopolitical confrontation.”

Posted: May 18, 2023 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=13685
Categories: News • In this article: dialogue, peace, Russian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox, WCC Transmis : 18 mai 2023 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=13685
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : dialogue, peace, Russian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox, WCC


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